Paper clip applicators



Sept. 24, 1968 HARTMAN ET AL 3,402,454

PAPER CL IP APPLI GATORS Filed Feb. 21, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 p 1963 H. L. HARTMAN E A 3,402,454

PAPER CLIP APPLICATORS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 21, 1966 Sept. 24, 1968 I H. L. HARTMAN ET 3,402,454

PAPER CLIP APPLICATORS Filed Feb. 21, 1966 3 sheets sheet 3 FZ7/Z IIO United States Patent O 3,402,454 PAPER CLIP APPLICATORS Herbert L. Hartman, The General Industries Co., and Robert R. Harrison, 713 La Grange Road, 110th of Elyria, Ohio 44035 Filed Feb. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 528,913 9 Claims. (Cl. 29-212) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE There is disclosed herein a device for applying paper clips to sheets of paper comprising a magazine for feeding a stack of adhesively connected clips to a dispensing position, means for separating the endmost clip, means for spreading the loops of the clip for receiving the paper, and means for releasing the clip to engage the paper.

This invention relates to paper clip dispensers and applicators and relates more particularly to applicators for paper clips of the common variety which are fromed of stiff wire bent into generally oblong shape. The invention particularly relates to an easily operable portable clip applicator device for securing paper clips to a sheaf of papers and is an improvement over prior art clip dispensers and for particularly those of the type shown in US. Letters Patent No. 3,235,950 dated Feb. 22, 1966.

It is an object of this invention to provide in an improved clip applicator of the type referred to retaining means for a sheaf, stack or pile of papers and dispensing and applying means for applying clips to said paper to secure said sheaf stack or pile of papers together.

Another object of this invention is to provide a paper clip applicator which is adapted to store a plurality of paper clips, to dispense said clips in an improved manner, and to apply the same easily and efiiciently to papers presented thereto.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a portable clip applicator mechanism having a storage compartment for adhesively connected clips, the clips preferably being inserted as a unit into the said storage chamber.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the type referred to wherein the clips when stored as a unit are separated one at a time for dispensing, the end clip being separated from the remainder of the clips to which it was secured by improved means.

Another object of the invention is to provide in the applicator of this invention improved means for holding and guiding the separate clips toward paper's positioned in the applicator and to quickly and expeditiously provide for securing the papers together.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby a bundle, sheaf or pile of sheets which are adapted to be secured are adapted to be evened in the device prior to application of the clip.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a paper clip applicator which is economical in manufacture, being composed of but few parts, durable in use and easily loaded and re-loaded.

Other objects of the invention and the invention itself will become more apparent from a purview of the annexed specification and from the illustrations of the embodiment thereof or will be indicated in the appended claims.

In accordance with the present invention the foregoing objects are generally accomplished by providing a paper clip applicator comprising a storage compartment for storing a stack of clips, which clips are preferably secured together before insertion so that a plurality of clips can be simultaneously loaded into the storage compart- 3,402,454 Patented Sept. 24, 1968 merit; clip separating and dispensing means for separating an end one of said clips from the remainder of the clips and for dispensing the clips one at a time from the magazine or storage compartment are adapted to be operated by manual pressure to urge each said clip into association with a sheaf of papers positioned adjacent thereto and yieldingly held within the device, the papers so se cured being readily removed from the device.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown for purposes of description and illustration and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification herein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the clip dispenser and applicator of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the clip dispenser and applicator of FIGURE 1, a portion of the clip housing being broken away for greater clarification;

FIGURE 3 is an end view taken from the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a part sectional view taken from the line P4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an end view of the clip applicator or dispenser of this invention taken from an opposite end to that shown in FIGURE 3, certain portions being broken away for purposes of clarification;

FIGURE 6 is a view taken from the line 66 of FIG- URE 4 disclosing in clearer detail the clip divider or clip separating means and clip position;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged view of portions of the applicator shown in FIGURES 2 and 4 and discolsing in solid lines one position of operation of the clip selecting and dispensing mechanism and in dotted lines a second position thereof;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged end View of the clip divider of the invention;

FIGURE 9 is a side view of the divider of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a view of the divider of FIGURE 8 taken from the line 10-10 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged plan view of the clip selector and dispenser of the invention; and

FIGURE 12 is an end view of the device of FIGURE 11.

Referring now to the figures of drawings, in all of which like parts are designated by like reference characters, the dispenser of this invention comprises a base 10, a clip storage compartment 11, clip holding bracket means 12, clip selecting means 13, paper, etc. retaining means 14, manually operable means 15 for operating the clip selecting means for selecting an end clip from a plurality of clips stored in the magazine compartment, and means 16 for dispensing and spreading said selected clip and guiding the same toward the sheaf of papers, etc. held in said device to clip the same together. In the form shown in these drawings the clip applicator is also provided with cutting means 17 adapted to be operated by said manually operated means to separate said end clip from the remainder of the stored clips prior to its selection and dispensing Where the same are adhesively or otherwise secured together and loaded as a unit in the storage compartment.

The storage compartment 11, it is to be noted, is disposed longitudinally of the rectangular base 10 and preferably positioned thereon by rivets 18 or the like.

Said compartment is, in the form shown herein, provided with a central portion 19, U-shaped in cross-section, and a leg of said U, 20, is provided with an inwardly projecting stud 21 or guide at the entrance end of the magazine or storage compartment 11 and is positioned adjacent the base end of the leg 20 wherefor it is adapted to contact and guide clips 22, which in the form shown are of loop form, underlying and abutting the free end of the outermost loop thereof, which forms a shoulder 23. The clip is preferably positioned in this manner for optimum ease of application.

As hereinbefore related the clips when loaded are preferably adhesively or otherwise secured together formingan integral block of clips 23 for loading. The said block of'clips23 is inserted into the U-shaped opening of the magazine 11 and is yieldingly retained therein by a pressure means 24. Said pressure means comprises a rod 25 which, as shown in FIGURE 2, is generally J-shaped, having astem portion 26, and a hooked end portion 27. The hook 27 is, in the form shown, provided with a notch 28 in the projecting end 29 thereof. The said end 29 of the rod 25 is adapted to be projected through an aperture 30 in the web 31 of the portion 19 of the magazine 11 and the stem 26 of the rod is provided with a pusher element 32 of generally the contour of the clips, the same being adapted to be pressed against the rearmost of the said clips or block of clips 23'.

Coil spring means 50 is provided telescoped over the longitudinally extending or stem portion 26 of the rod 25 and is seated at one end upon an annulus or disc 51 secured to an intermediate portion of the rod portion 26 adjacent to the hook portion 27 thereof; the forward end of the coil is seated against the pusher element or against bracket means 33 secured thereto, said bracket in the form shown formed similarly to the pusher element 32 but provided with an offset central portion 34 against which the spring impinges. The pusher or clip pressure plate 32 is as illustrated centrally apertured at 35, said aperture 35 being in alignment with an opening 36 in the offset portion 34 of the bracket 33 and the stem 26 projecting through both aperture 35 and opening 36. The rod is thus adapted to bias the clips forwardly as shown wherefor the innermost clip 38 of the clips and the next clip thereto 39 are retained in predetermined position for separa'tion of said end clips, and for selection, guidance, and separating, and receiving papers presented thereto.

To load the magazine, adhesively secured clips of the conventional or loop type are inserted into the magazine. The shoulder formed by the free ends of the outer most loops of each clip is placed over the stud 21 and the clips are moved forwardly in the magazine by insertion of the pusher element in the magazine. The elements 32 and 33 are provided with shoulders on either of the sides therer of on opposite ends as shown at 40, 41, respectively, Wherefor when the clip pressure means 24 carrying the same is inserted into the magazine the same is aligned and guided by the guide means 21 projecting inwardly in the magazine into contact with the rearmost of the said clips; the rod 25 thereof is then locked to the web by insertion of the notch of the said hook 27 thereof into the opening, the notch engaging the peripheral walls surrounding said opening and spring pressure retaining the clip pressure means 24 within the magazine and in pressure engagement with the clips urging the same forwardly in the magazine wherefor the innermost end clip 38 is in position later described herein.

The innermost of said clips 38 is positioned, as shown, within a U-shaped opening 42 provided by a retainer plate 43 and an opening 46 in clip holding bracket member 44, both of which are secured in the embodiment illustrated to a second clip holding bracket 45 which is provided-with a foot 45, the latter being generally L-shaped in cross-section: the foot beingsecured as by rivets to the base forwardly of the clip storing and dispensing compartment or magazine 11.

Each of the brackets 44, 45 and the retainer plate 43 are provided with aligned openings 46, 47 and 42, respectively. The opening 42 in the retainer plate 43 is, as stated hereinbefore, generally U-shape and is preferably larger than the U-shaped yoke of the clip magazine 11, surrounding the same. The said first and the second brackets 44, 45 are provided with centrally disposed longitudinally extending slots 46, 47, respectively, generally nar- 4 rower and of greater depth than that of the centrally disposed open end slot 42 in the retainer plate 43. The openings 42 and 46 in the retainer plate 43 and bracket 44 provide clearance for the width and depth of a clip and accommodate a second and first clip respectively therein, the opening 47 in the bracket 45 being of narrower extent throughout the lowermost depth of the slot 47 than the width of the clip thus holding the end clips in predetermined positioning and preventing their dislodgernent other than by the dispensing means. FIGURES 4 and 7 illustrate the end clip positioning within the clip seating pocket formed by the openings 46, 42. It will be noted that the slot 47 is of such width and extent in its upper portion to permit spreading and withdrawal of the end clip therethrough. See FIGURE 7.

The brackets 44 and 45 are further provided at their upper ends with sloped or inclined ramps 48, 49 adjacent inclined upper slotted portions thereof. A cam plate 60 is secured to the clip retaining means including brackets 44, 45 and retaining plate 42 by rivets 61 and is also provided with a centrally disposed elongated closed end slot 62 and a pair of longitudinally extending slots 63, 64 disposed on either side of said central slot; said laterally disposed slots are relatively narrow and provide a pair of downwardly extending legs 65, 66 wherefor the cam plate is adapted to be secured by the rivets 61 to the clip retaining means as shown.

The upper portion 67 of said cam plate forms an apertured yoke joined by shoulders 68 to the legs 65, 68 serving to space the upper portion of said cam plate from the innermost clip bracket 45. The cam plate is further provided with inclined or camrning surfaces 69, 70 on either side of the central opening 62 in said cam plate generally medially of said apertured central portion of the plate.

The upper edge of the cam plate is inclined, as indicated at 71, oppositely to the inclination of the inclined upper surfaces 48, 49 of the clip brackets 44, 45. A generally U-shaped spring member 72 is secured as by rivets 73 to the inner surfaces of the inclined surfaces 71 of the cam plate 60 and said spring member is provided with inwardly bowed portions 73 and preferably inturned ends 74.

The cam plate 69 and the clip brackets 44, 45 thus form a pocket for the reception of a stack of papers adapted to be vertically inserted therein and the bowed portions 73 of the U-shaped spring element 72, secured to the cam plate 60 are adapted to exert spring pressure on said papers when the same are inserted in the opening between the cam plate and the brackets and the same are held therein for reception of the clips.

Manual means 15 comprises manually operable means or tongue 80, an L-shaped standard or slide bar 81, and a base 62 secured in spaced relation to the base 45 of the clip bracket 45; the slide bar 81 is disposed vertically in general parallel relation to the body portions of the clip brackets and to the vertically extending portions of the cam plate 60. The manually operable means has a transversely extending slot 84 which is adapted to receive the vertically extending portion of the slide bar 85 which has a pair of oppositely disposed outwardly extending ears or lugs 86 on either side thereof and an inturned end portion 87 adjacent its lower edge parallel to the portion 80 of the slide and said portion is provided with a transverse slot 88 whereby the slide piece is movable in an upward and downward direction on the slide portion 81.

A clip divider or separator 17 having generally U- shaped flat yoke 90 centrally slotted as indicated at 91 is adapted to be disposed within a space or pocket provided by an offset center portion 92 of the retainer plate 43 and the vertically extending portion of the bracket 44, said space permits cutter surfaces as shown at 93 to penetrate and sever adhesive between adjacent of the clips, as best illustrated in FIGURE 4 and as described hereinafter. Arms 94, 95 are integrally secured to and extend rearwardly on opposite sides of the yoke of the divider 90 and said arms enter the pocket for the yoke 90 through slots 63, 64 in the cam plate 60 and aligned slots 46', 47 on either side of the brackets 44, 45.

The depressible slide piece is apertured as shown at 100 to provide a journal for a rod 101 secured to the base of the slide bar 81 and the 'base of the dispenser, as by rivet means 102. A generally C-shaped clip means 103 secures the rod to the slide.

Compression coil spring means 105 telescoped over the rod 101 is seated upon the base 82 of the slide bar 81 and against the under surface of the tongue 80 of the slide to exert spring pressure upon the thumb engaging tongue 80 of the slide biasing the same upwardly and adding spring resistance to the cutting and selecting means upon movement of the slide piece downwardly.

The clip pick-up is provided by pick-up means or selecting means 13, the said clip pick-up being a generally inclined J-shaped cross-setional flat strip of metal having the upwardly extending end of the J, 110, secured to the lower portion of the inner face of the slide piece by rivets 111 and its stem 112 provided with outwardly extending upper spaced ends 113, 114 having a pair of inwardly curved cam follower portions 113', 114' adapted to ride on either side of the central slot of the cam plate 60 and on cam surfaces 69, 70 thereof.

A curved tongue 115 is positioned between the said spaced ends 113, 114 and is adapted to be projected through the central slot 62 in the cam plate 60. The cam follower surfaces or portions 113', 114' of the clip pick up element 13 are adapted to cam over the camming surfaces 69, 70 wherefore the inwardly extending pick up tongue 115 is adapted to protrude inwardly through the openings in the cam plate and brackets protruding into the inner loop of the end clip, as shown in FIGURE 7 in solid lines, which has been separated from the remainder of the clips by means of the divider 17 which prior to descent of the selector 13 has cut the adhesive bond between the two end clips.

The thus selected clip on gradual release of the manual pressure rises in the central slots 46, 47 of the brackets 44, 45 indicated in FIGURE 7 and upon ascent of the cam follower portions 113' and 114' over the camming surfaces 69, 70 of the cam plate 60 the inner loop of the clip is extended outwardly of the outside loop thereof to be disposed over and grasp one side of papers disposed in the retaining means or magazine 14, the outer loop being disposed on the opposite side of said papers, and due to the enlargement of the slot 47 in its upper portion, the clip is free to leave such slot upon final ascent and is secured to the papers.

In the downward movement of the slide piece, there is lost motion provided between the manually operable means 15 and the divider 17 to accommodate differences or lack of uniformity in the clips as well as to provide for the sequential operation of the clip divider and pick up member, the clip pick up member being positioned above the cutting edges of the cutter during a portion of its descent so that the beveled cutting edges of the cutter are first brought into a position between a pair of first presented clips of the block of clips to separate the outermost clip from the said block prior to its engagement by the clip pick up means. The lost motion connection is best seen in FIGURES 2 and 5 and further clarified by the details of FIGURES 8-10. The rearwardly projecting arms 94, 95 of the cutting means 17 have vertical portions 96 provided with rearwardly projecting lower and upper lugs 98 and 99, respectively. The laterally projecting ears 86 of the manually operable means 15 project loosely between said lugs 98 and 99 whereby said means 15 can move upwardly and downwardly to a limited degree without moving said cutting means 17.

It will be observed that in operation the papers are inserted vertically in the most convenient position within the paper retaining section of the dispenser; that the same rest on their lowermost edges on the shoulder portions 68 of the cam plate thus permitting evening in position; the clips are separated selected and placed in position with the inner loop on one side of a sheaf of papers and upon release of pressure the clip securely retains the papers and the papers are then easily removed by an upward movement.

Although we have described our invention in connection with a preferred embodiment it is to beunde-rstood that numerous and extensive departures may be made therefrom without, however, departing from the spirit of our invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A clip dispenser and applicator comprising a clip magazine for housing a plurality of loop form clips, spring means in said magazine for urging said clips toward a predetermined dispensing position, a paper magazine for receiving and retaining papers, a manually operable spring biased slide, said slide having clip selector means operatively associated therewith, said selector means engaging an inner loop of an end clip, cam means camming said selector means away from the end clip upon activation of said slide to spread the inner loop outwardly from said outer loop of the clip, release of manually exerted pressure upon the slide disposing the inner loop on the side of the said papers, and the outer loop on the other side of said sheaf of paper, said clip magazine being an elongated horizontally disposed magazine, said paper magazine being a vertically extending magazine disposed immediately adjacent and above the clip magazine, said slide being adapted to move downwardly and upwardly on a vertically extending standard spaced from said paper magazine, the plurality of clips being secured together and adapted to be loaded in the clip magazine as a unit, shearing means operatively associated with said side and having shearing surfaces disposed contiguous the bond between the endmost and the next adjacent clip, manual pressure upon the slide first separating the endmost clip from the next adjacent clip and continued pressure on said manual means causing the selector means to be thereafter projected into the inner loop.

2. A clip dispenser and applicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shearing means is loosely mounted upon the slide means, a lost motion connection securing the same thereon.

3. A clip dispenser and applicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the spring biased slide consists of a slide bar, a spring biased slide piece, said slide piece having a pair of outwardly projecting lugs, said clip selector means secured to said slide piece, said clip selector means having cam follower surfaces and a protruding tongue portion, the paper magazine carrying said cam means, the cam follower surfaces of the clip selector being adapted to be cammed thereon, a lost motion connection between said slide piece and generally U-shaped shearing means, said shearing means having a pair of lateral arms provided with spaced end portions, the projecting lugs on the slide piece adapted to contact, when the slide piece is in its uppermost operative position, the uppermost of said end portions and to contact the lowermost of said end portions upon downward movement of the slide prece.

4. A clip dispenser and applicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clip magazine, the paper magazine, and the slide means, are mounted upon an elongated horizontally disposed base.

5. A clip dispenser and applicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selector means is generally J'shaped and of resilient material, the loop of said I being secured to the inner surface of a lowermost portion of the slide piece and the upper portion of the stem of said J-shaped selector means being provided with a pair of spaced cam follower surfaces and a protruding tongue disposed between said surfaces, said protruding tongue engaging the inner loop of the end dip and lifting and spreading the same upon release of spring pressure on said slide.

6. A clip dispenser and applicator of the type claimed in claim 1, wherein the paper magazine is formed by substantially vertically disposed cam plate having a portion thereof in spaced relation to a pair of vertically disposed slotted bracket members, the upper ends of said cam plate and said bracket members being inclined in opposite directions to form a magazine for the reception of paper therebetween, spring means secured to the inner face of said cam plate adapted to exert spring pressure upon the papers received within said paper magazine to retain the same therein, said cam plate having camming surfaces on an opposite face of said cam plate intermediate the ends thereof.

7. A clip dispenser and applicator comprising a clip magazine for housing a plurality of loop form clips adhesively connected together in stack relation, spring means in said magazine for urging said clips toward a dispensing end of said magazine, a paper magazine for receiving and retaining papers disposed adjacent to said dispensing end, a manually operable spring biased slide, said slide having clip selector means operatively associated therewith, said selector means engaging an inner loop of the endmost clip when said slide is actuated, cam means camming said selector means away from the end clip upon actuation of said slide to spread the inner loop outwardly from the outer loop of the clip, release of manually exerted pressure upon said slide actuating said slide and disposing the inner loop of the clip on one side of the papers and the outer loop on the other side of the papers, said slide being adapted to move perpendicularly with respect to the direction of movement of said clips on a standard spaced from said dispensing end of said clip magazine, a shearing member slidable across said dispensing end perpendicularly with respect to the movement of the clips, said shearing member having surfaces for severing the adhesive and dividing the endmost clip from the remainder of the clips, said slide connected to said shearing member whereby upon manual depression of said slide, said endmost clip is severed to be engaged and spread by said selector means when said slide is released.

8. A paper clip dispenser and applicator comprising a clip magazine for housing a plurality of loop form clips adhesively connected together in stacked relation, means urging the stack of clips toward a dispensing end of said clip magazine, guide means disposed at said dispensing end comprising retainer plate means, cam means, and a paper magazine having an open mouth portion for receiving papers to be clipped, a portion of said retainer plate means comprising one side of the open mouth portion of said paper magazine, a manual slide member mounted adjacent to and parallel with said guide means and resiliently biased in the general direction of said open mouth portion of said paper magazine, a clip selector carried by said slide member having a hook adapted to project through slot means in said guide means and into the inner loop of the endmost clip when said slide member is depressed, said cam means having cam surfaces and said selector having cooperative cam follower portiOns whereby upon release of the depressed slide member, the hook end of said selector engages said inner loop and is camrned away from the endmost clip to spread the inner loop away from the outer loop thereof as the clip is moved toward said paper magazine, said retainer plate having a slot therein extending from the depressing end of said clip magazine into said paper magazine, said slot being narrower than the outer loop of the endmost clip adjacent to said clip magazine and wide enough for the clip to pass therethrough adjacent to said paper magazine whereby the outer loop is retained behind said retainer plate during the spreading thereof and is released to engage the papers when it reaches the paper magazine.

9. A paper clip dispenser and applicator as set forth in claim 8, said guide means including means providing a way and a U-shaped shearing member slidably disposed in said way for movement parallel with the movement of said slide member, said shearing member having surface adapted to engage between the endmost clip and the next adjacent clip for severing the adhesive and shearing and dividing the endmost clip from the stack, means connecting said slide member and said shearing member whereby when said slide member is depressed, the endmost clip is separated from the stack.

2/1966 Smotzer. 6/1966 Macondray et al.

THOMAS H. EAGER, Primary Examiner.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PATENT OFFICE Washington, D.C. 20231 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,402,454 September 24, 1968 Herbert L. Hartman et al.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading to the printed specification, lines 3 to 5, The General Industries Co. and Robert R. Harrison, 713 La Grange Road, both of Elyria, Ohio 44035" should read and Robert R. Harrison, both of Elyria, Ohio, assignors to The General Industries Company, Elyria, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Signed and sealed this 3rd day of February 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, J r.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. 

